Hi Guys, Sure I HAVE NOT SPELT IT RIGHT BUT DOES ANYONNE KNOW IS THIS PAINFUL AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR?

I had pains in feet heels and toes and my right foot goining inwards.
Had Physo no good
Sent to Arthritus and had a scan no luck.
Sent to Nurology and want me to have this lumber punture on Thursday.

Not happy I went to see my Cancer Consultant who was very informative.
He basically said yes the nerves in your spine could be damaged by the RADIOTHERAPY?
I said that was 8 years ago and he said yes.
He called for Oncologist who looked and said only seeen this once before(thought why cant I have something like evryone else has )
He advised me to have the lumber punture done as all other test have been done but I worry what they are looking for.
Plus have to go alone not fun.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I would not agree but my right foot getting worse and I keep tripping up specially going up stairs and kerbs feel an idiot.



cheers

Paul

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Krishan,

Hi Paul,

A lumbar puncture is more commonly (over here anyway) called a spinal tap and it sure doesn't look like fun. Here's an article about it:

Lumbar Puncture

Here's a video of the procedure:

Lumbar Puncture Video

Hope this helps.

Mimi

Hi Paul,
I've read horror stories about them as well.One of my friends had one a couple of years ago.I picked him up from the hospital afterwards.
He said it didn't hurt and seemed ok when I saw him. He said they inject some local anaesthetic into the site and I think the procedure takes about 10 minutes.He did say you have to lie flat for a couple of hours afterwards because you can get a headache after it.
I think a lot of it has to do with the expertise of the person that is doing it.
good luck and hope you get on ok.

Best Wishes,

David.

My mom had one. Very simple procedure. In her case they were looking to confirm her MS - which she does have. There is a pinch and sting but my mother freaks over needles and it was rally no big deal for her. she had a small bruise after and just took it easy that day....

thanks for your replies.
I could not watch all the video do not want to see hehe
Would think i be used to procidures by now but am still scared.

Paul

Hi Paul

I hope the spinal tap wasn't as bad as you'd imagined. It sounds worse than the pre-op injections I got in my tongue and the floor of my mouth.

Julia

Hi Paul

I have a frind who has these done regularly and whilst not fun they are not as major a deal as you might think. Of course that's easy for me to say but honestly my friend has them quite often and says they are okay. She goes off and then comes back to work. They are testing for levels of some sort to do with chemical balance- not an expert am I!

I hope this helps a little. They may be looking for levels of or any cancer cells in the bone marrow or any infection in there. Seems more likely that it is indeed the radiotherapy damage to the nerves to me but better tested than left to get worse. Ask them what they are looking for. They mayy not now themselves and it may just be a precaustion.

Best wishes and good luck!

Tony